Daily Inspiration

Masturbation in Sexual Recovery

Some (but not all) sex addicts have a pathological relationship with masturbation.

When constructing a sexual boundary plan, one potentially problematic gray area is masturbation. For sex addicts who compulsively masturbate (with or without pornography), the decision is clear. Masturbation is a prohibited inner-boundary activity. For others, there is less clarity. They must ask themselves if masturbation consistently fuels the high of sexual addiction. Depending on the answer, masturbation might be viewed as an inner boundary activity, a slippery but still-sober middle boundary activity, or even a healthy outer boundary activity. When there is confusion about where to place masturbation within a boundary plan, it is best to err on the side of caution.

Just for Today: Think about your masturbation history. When did it start? How has it escalated? What role does it play in your addiction?